The Wesley Trail

THE WESLEY TRAIL ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNVIVERSITY MAY TERM COURSE

DAY 1 DEPART CHICAGO – THUR 21 MAY 09

Chicago – London United 958 5:00PM – 7:10AM

DAY 2 ARRIVAL LONDON (D) – FRI 22 MAY Upon arrival in London you will be met by your local guide. You will be taken into London by private luxury motor coach. As check-in at the hotel is not until the early afternoon, you will be taken on an orientation tour of London’s West End. You will stop to take photos from Westminster Bridge with its wonderful views of the neo-gothic Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. You will also have a guided visit of the beautiful Westminster Abbey, the coronation church and burial place of English monarchs since William the Conqueror was crowned here on Christmas Day 1066. In the Abbey there is a memorial to John and Charles Wesley. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and remainder of the day free. Evening welcome dinner at the hotel.

London Kensington Forum Hotel London Travel Guide | Fodor's Travel Guides 97 CROMWELL ROAD LONDON, SW7 4DN ENGLAND Hotel Front Desk: 44-870-4009100

DAY 3 LONDON (CB) – SAT 23 MAY 09 This morning you will focus on sites associated with John Wesley in the historic quarter of Londinium now called the City , which was where London began as Roman Londinium. You will visit Wesley's House and Chapel in City Road. The house is tiny and this is where John Wesley spent the last 12 years of his life before his death there. You will see John Wesley’s grave in the chapel churchyard and visit the exhibition on the History of Methodism which is installed in the crypt. The foundation stone of the chapel was laid in 1777 by Wesley himself. You will visit Bunhill Fields Cemetery opposite the chapel, where many early non-conformists are buried - such as William Blake, John Bunyan, Susana Wesley, Issac Watts and Daniel Defoe. You will explore the historic city where so much of the Wesley’s religious life was experienced. On Aldersgate Street you will see the place which marks John Wesley’s evangelical conversion in 1739, when his ‘heart was strangely warmed’ after attending evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral. The choir sang ‘ Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee’. You will follow in Wesley’s footsteps and visit Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece which miraculously escaped the London blitz of World War II. Return to your hotel for a free evening.

London Kensington Forum Hotel Wesley's Chapel & Leysian Mission | Virtual Chapel DAY 4 LONDON (CB) – SUN 24 MAY 09 Enjoy a free day in London for further sightseeing or shopping.

London Kensington Forum Hotel

DAY 5 LONDON, STONEHENGE, BATH, BRISTOL (B,D) MON 25 MAY 09 A glorious and fascinating journey today through Wiltshire which is littered with pre-historic stones and burial mounds . You will visit historic Salisbury where you will visit the cathedral dating from the 11th century with the loftiest church spire in England. Wesley often visited Salisbury as he journeyed through Salisbury Plain to preach throughout the south of England. Afterwards visit one of the world's most famous megalithic monuments -the stone circle at Stonehenge. Continue to Bath, England's most finely preserved Georgian city. Wesley had founded Kingswood school for ministers' sons in Bristol but it did eventually move to Bath. Touring the city will include the fine Royal Crescent and the Pulteney Bridge as well as a visit to the Roman Baths and Pump rooms created by the Romans from the natural hot springs there. We continue to Bristol a grand and famous old city and seaport, a very important site for Methodists. Dinner and overnight in Bristol.

Mercure Holland House Hotel & Spa Stonehenge The Official Roman Baths Museum Redcliffe Hill Bristol BSI6SQ TEL: 44117689900

DAY 6 BRISTOL (B,D) – TUE 26 MAY 09 This morning you will take a tour of the Wesley associated sites of Bristol. You will visit John Wesley's Chapel - The New Room – which is the oldest Methodist building in the world, built in 1739. Above the Georgian chapel are the preachers' rooms where John and Charles Wesley lived and where the first Methodist preachers stayed. You will visit St Mary Redcliffe Church one of the best examples of medieval architecture in the county. Dinner and overnight Bristol.

Mercure Holland House Hotel & Spa About Bristol, England, UK

Redcliffe Hill Bristol BSI6SQ TEL: 44117689900 DAY 7 BRISTOL, STRATFORD, EPWORTH, LINCOLN (B,D) – WED 27 MAY 09 This morning depart Bristol and journey through the charming and pretty Cotswold region on our way to Stratford. Enjoy a brief stop in the lovely town of Stratford. You will leave Stratford and make your way to Epworth, a key site for Methodists. Here you will visit the Old Rectory where the Wesley family lived and St Andrew’s Parish Church , where Reverend Samuel Wesley was rector and where his sons John and Charles were baptized. You will also visit the Wesley Memorial Church, founded by John & Charles Wesley. Continue to the noble and historic town of Lincoln – whose majestic cathedral can be seen from miles away rising high above the plain. Dinner and overnight Lincoln.

The Lincoln Hotel Epworth Old Rectory

EASTGATE LINCOLN LN2 1PN TEL: 441522510780

DAY 8 LINCOLN, OXFORD, LONDON (CB) – THUR 28 MAY 09 This morning in Lincoln, visit Lincoln Castle where Samuel Wesley was imprisoned. You will visit the cell where he was imprisoned and also visit the beautiful cathedral. This morning we drive southwards to return to London, via Oxford. Oxford is the seat of one the two great ancient English universities. You will have a guided walking tour of the colleges including a visit to the magnificent Christ Church college, which includes the tiny Oxford Cathedral. A highlight today will be a specially arranged visit to Lincoln College (subject to availability) founded in 1427 . John Wesley was a fellow here and where he founded the Holy Club also nicknamed the society of 'Methodists'. Here you will be able to see Wesley's Rooms where he studied and worked. Arrive back in London in the late afternoon with the rest of the evening free.

London Kensington Forum Hotel Lincoln College - Oxford University

97 CROMWELL ROAD LONDON, SW7 4DN ENGLAND

DAY 9 DEPARTURE (B) – FRI 29 MAY 09 We leave our hotel this morning and transfer to London airport for departure to the USA.

London – Chicago United 949 12:20P – 3:21PM

MEAL PLAN CB = Continental breakfast ; B = Full breakfast; D = Dinner; L = Lunch